What was the Golden Age of the English Renaissance?
This "golden age" represented the apogee of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of poetry, music and literature. The era is most famous for theatre, as William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England's past style of theatre.
How did England become under Plantagenet rule?
The Norman dynasty established by William the Conqueror ruled England for over half a century before the period of succession crisis known as the Anarchy (1135–1154). Following the Anarchy, England came under the rule of the House of Plantagenet, a dynasty which later inherited claims to the Kingdom of France.
Who succeeded William the Conqueror to the throne?
Henry I, the fourth son of William I the Conqueror, succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100. Henry was also known as "Henry Beauclerc" because he received a formal education, unlike his older brother and heir apparent William who got practical training to be king.
Why was England so well off during the Renaissance?
The Protestant/Catholic divide was settled, for a time, by the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, and parliament was not yet strong enough to challenge royal absolutism. England was also well off compared to the other nations of Europe. The Italian Renaissance had ended due to foreign domination of the peninsula.
Who were the rulers of England during the Renaissance?
The Renaissance monarchs, such as Charles V (reigned 1519–56), Francis I (1515–47), and Elizabeth I (1558–1603), unified their realms and strengthened their bureaucracies.
Who was queen during the Renaissance?
The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the “Virgin Queen” for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare.
What did Queen Elizabeth have to do with the Renaissance?
She was responsible for English exploration of the New World and the flourishing of the economy, making England a world power. Her reign was also noted for the English Renaissance, an outpouring of poetry and drama. Elizabeth's court also became a center for poets, musicians, writers, and scholars.
Did queen Elizabeth have black teeth?
The queen was especially fond of sweets, but not so fond of the dentist. Her teeth rotted; they turned black and gave off a foul odor. Eventually, Elizabeth lost so many teeth that people found it difficult to understand her when she spoke.
What was the Renaissance called in England?
Renaissance in England was called the Elizabethan era. It was so called to honor Queen Elizabeth, who was the English monarch for more than four decades and oversaw political stability.
How did renaissance start in England?
The English Renaissance can be hard to date precisely, but for most scholars, it begins with the rise of the Tudor Dynasty (1485–1603) and reaches its cultural summit during the 45-year reign of the final Tudor monarch, the charismatic Elizabeth I (1558–1603).
Was Queen Elizabeth a Renaissance woman?
Elizabeth is a huge piece of England's history. Her father was as well, along with her mother, however she stood above all other kings and queens of the renaissance. Elizabeth was a fascinating woman, and a stunning queen. Her influential sayings and givings helped many people in those times.
Why is Elizabethan Era called the Renaissance period?
The Elizabethan age is considered to be a time of English renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals, international expansion, and naval triumph. This English Renaissance saw the flowering of poetry, music and literature.
Who were the 2 medieval queens of England?
England's 10 Greatest Medieval QueensBertha of Kent. Bertha, a Frankish princess, was born in the early 560s to Charibert I, King of Paris, and a woman named Ingoberga. ... Æthelflæd. ... Matilda of Flanders. ... Matilda of Scotland. ... Empress Matilda. ... Eleanor of Aquitaine. ... Queen Philippa of Hainault. ... Isabella of Valois.More items...•
Who was the first female queen in Europe?
Isabella was Europe's first truly great queen regnant – the founding member of a small club of women whose influence spread well beyond their country's borders and which includes England's Elizabeth I and Victoria, the Russian empresses Catherine the Great and Elizabeth, as well as Maria Theresa of Austria.
Who was the most powerful queen in Europe?
Elizabeth I (1533-1603) Elizabeth I was one of most powerful English monarchs ever and arguably the most powerful woman in the world.
What was the role of the queen in medieval times?
Queens were often able to exercise influence through their roles within the royal family as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts, as well as wield significant power as regents, intercessors, patrons, and models of piety and chastity.
When did the Romans conquer Britain?
In 43 AD the Roman conquest of Britain began; the Romans maintained control of their province of Britannia until the early 5th century. The end of Roman rule in Britain facilitated the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, which historians often regard as the origin of England and of the English people.
How old was Edward VI when he became king?
Although he showed piety and intelligence, Edward VI was only nine years old when he became king in 1547. His uncle, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset tampered with Henry VIII's will and obtained letters patent giving him much of the power of a monarch by March 1547. He took the title of Protector. While some see him as a high-minded idealist, his stay in power culminated in a crisis in 1549 when many counties of the realm were up in protest. Kett's Rebellion in Norfolk and the Prayer Book Rebellion in Devon and Cornwall simultaneously created a crisis while invasion from Scotland and France were feared. Somerset, disliked by the Regency Council for being autocratic, was removed from power by John Dudley, who is known as Lord President Northumberland. Northumberland proceeded to adopt the power for himself, but he was more conciliatory and the Council accepted him. During Edward's reign England changed from being a Catholic nation to a Protestant one, in schism from Rome.
What were the Anglo-Saxons?
Collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons, these included Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians. The Battle of Deorham was critical in establishing Anglo-Saxon rule in 577. Saxon mercenaries existed in Britain since before the late Roman period, but the main influx of population probably happened after the fifth century. The precise nature of these invasions is not fully known; there are doubts about the legitimacy of historical accounts due to a lack of archaeological finds. Gildass ' De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, composed in the 6th century, states that when the Roman army departed the Isle of Britannia in the 4th century CE, the indigenous Britons were invaded by Picts, their neighbours to the north (now Scotland) and the Scots (now Ireland). Britons invited the Saxons to the island to repel them but after they vanquished the Scots and Picts, the Saxons turned against the Britons.
What was the role of Rome in the invasion of Britain?
Control of trade, the flow of resources and prestige goods, became ever more important to the elites of Southern Britain; Rome steadily became the biggest player in all their dealings, as the provider of great wealth and patronage.
What was the Bronze Age?
The Bronze Age began around 2500 BC with the appearance of bronze objects. This coincides with the appearance of the characteristic Beaker culture, which occurred primarily by folk movement. The Bronze Age saw a shift of emphasis from the communal to the individual, and the rise of increasingly powerful elites whose power came from their prowess as hunters and warriors and their controlling the flow of precious resources to manipulate tin and copper into high-status bronze objects such as swords and axes. Settlement became increasingly permanent and intensive. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, many examples of very fine metalwork began to be deposited in rivers, presumably for ritual reasons and perhaps reflecting a progressive change in emphasis from the sky to the earth, as a rising population put increasing pressure on the land. England largely became bound up with the Atlantic trade system, which created a cultural continuum over a large part of Western Europe. It is possible that the Celtic languages developed or spread to England as part of this system; by the end of the Iron Age there is much evidence that they were spoken across all England and western parts of Britain.
How did the Norman Conquest affect the English state?
The Norman Conquest led to a profound change in the history of the English state. William ordered the compilation of the Domesday Book, a survey of the entire population and their lands and property for tax purposes, which reveals that within 20 years of the conquest the English ruling class had been almost entirely dispossessed and replaced by Norman landholders, who monopolised all senior positions in the government and the Church. William and his nobles spoke and conducted court in Norman French, in both Normandy and England. The use of the Anglo-Norman language by the aristocracy endured for centuries and left an indelible mark in the development of modern English.
What was the succession crisis in France?
A succession crisis in France led to the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), a series of conflicts involving the peoples of both nations. Following the Hundred Years' Wars, England became embroiled in its own succession wars.
What is the Renaissance?
What we normally refer to as the Renaissance in Western European history marks a break or transition from the Medieval period and leads toward our modern era. The Renaissance embraces a series of religious, economic, and political changes which ripple into areas of science, literature, and philosophy. Naturally one does not see these changes along ...
How did the Renaissance start capitalism?
The Renaissance marks the beginning of capitalism through the formation of capital holding companies that engaged in expensive and risky trade with Russia, the Far East, and other remote trading sites. The Muscovy Company, the East India Company and the West India Company all, from time to time, provided handsome profits for their investors. Shakespeare was a direct and indirect beneficiary of this activity. Directly, he himself invested in the newly built Globe Theater and realized income from the profits of the theater. Although the Globe was more of a partnership than a stock holding company, it nevertheless represented profit generated not from land, as would have been the case in the medieval period, but from joint investment in a business enterprise. Indirectly, he benefited from the general prosperity of London, a center for trade with its direct but protected access to the English Channel via the Thames River, on whose south bank the Globe stood providing entertainment to city traders and to not a few sailors, I would imagine. Let me add a cautionary remark, I am not suggesting that Shakespeare is the product of early capitalist enterprise; however, I am suggesting that a more open climate allowed people like Shakespeare to prosper and succeed.
Why did Shakespeare choose Montaigne?
Perhaps because there was so much religious ferment in Europe that had resulted in extraordinary persecution and bloodshed on all sides, Shakespeare opted, like his contemporary, Montaigne, in France, to stay out of the controversy not taking dogmatic positions on religious issues.
What does Shakespeare do in Twelfth Night?
Shakespeare does in Twelfth Night, poke fun at the growing puritan movement in England. Likewise in Loves's Labour's Lost and Measure for Measure, he finds newly reformed individuals who have "seen the light" a source of great humor.
Why did Spain attack the English?
In part because of Drake and other overt acts of piracy by the English against the Spanish, Spain mounted a major assault against the English in an attempt to seriously damage their shipping and stop the piracy. In 1588 the Spanish Armada sailed up the English Channel to attack Holland and England, but they were badly defeated losing numerous ships, sailors, and soldiers. Part of the loss came from a bad turn in the weather, but the English victory should not be minimized. English ships were smaller and more easily maneuverable. At the same time they were more lightly armed, but this disadvantage seems to have been more than compensated for by more agile ships. The result of the defeat of the Spanish Armada was a period of relative peace for the next twenty years; a period of peace that almost directly coincides with Shakespeare's dramatic career.
Where did Shakespeare come from?
Shakespeare himself came from common origins . His father was not of the aristocracy or even the landed gentry, but a successful glover who had a shop in Stratford. In an earlier time Shakespeare would have followed his father's trade, and no doubt there was strong pressure for him to do so in the late part of the sixteenth century; however, other opportunities presented themselves during this time of growth and expansion. In the late 1580's or early 90's Shakespeare found himself in London, a city that was expanding in size and was developing new businesses. During the sixteenth century London approximately doubled its size to 200,000 inhabitants, which by today's standards seems small. During the Renaissance most of the English population resided in rural areas. Cities were crowded, considered dirty, and often dangerous. The greatest problem was public hygiene. There were, of course, no sanitary sewers or a purified source of fresh water. Dung carts, which passed through the streets daily, attempted to remove the bulk of human and other animal waste. Wells were dug at convenient places through the city, but there was no means to monitor the quality of the water. (The discovery of chlorine, a central chemical in water purification was still nearly 200 years away.) Thus typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, and a variety of other water born diseases were always a threat to residents. There was also no organized police force as we would conceive it today. Shakespeare has numerous funny scenes that involve Renaissance law enforcement officers, sometimes called constables or members of the watch. They are nearly always the dumbest characters in the play. Most often they would not recognize a criminal if he had the word tattooed on his forehead; yet, in his gentle way, Shakespeare usually arranges for these officers, despite themselves, to triumph in the end. One of the best examples of these figures is Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing.
What was the Spanish Armada's main goal in 1588?
In 1588 the Spanish Armada sailed up the English Channel to attack Holland and England, but they were badly defeated losing numerous ships, sailors, and soldiers. Part of the loss came from a bad turn in the weather, but the English victory should not be minimized.
